coming in december (13-17). Is there a tour to see tree in rockefeller center, department store windows, etc? only have 1 night-thought it might be easier. thanks for your help

Not aware of any tour for this. Nor can I imagine why you would want one. Part of the fun is taking your time to explore what you want as you want - shopping along the way as you feel like it - dropping into St. Pat's or going in somewhere for a drink or a snack.

Besides - the mobs of people doing the same thing would preclude any meaningful tour.

New York is a walking city - just put on your comfy shoes and go.

The Grayline night time lights bus tour becomes a holiday lights tour at Xmas time but you really can only see the windows on foot by walking. This tour is not a hop on/off tour. Rock. Center is right near many of the dept. stores that are most viewing worthy. The best ones are Saks (across from Rock. Ctr.), Lord & Taylor (about 10 block south of Rock Ctr.), Bergdorf Goodman (9 blocks north of Rock Ctr.). Barney's, Macy's and Bloomingdales are a bit further in different directions.

Looking at the windows is better on foot than from the window of a tour bus.

Here's a map: http://gonyc.about.com/library/galle...maswindows.htm

It's also better to go after the stores have closed...

Note: That time of year the stores don;t typically close until 10 or so. If it's a bad year and they're desperate some stay open until midnight (esp Macy's and Bloomies).

thanks for your help. i realize it would be better to walk and take our time but in a strange city (in the december cold) after dark i guess we thought it would be easier to tour.

My mom and I took the Grayline Holiday Lights tour - and enjoyed it very much for the very reasons cited.

Cold weather = toasty warm in the bus
Shorter days = less time to sightsee via foot

Of course, you are going to walk around Rock Ctr and the store windows on 5th Avenue - but the tour is a great way to get a larger overview of the city decorated for the holidays.

We did get off the bus at Lincoln Center for a short stop. Of course, this was several years ago and things can change.

I would recommend the tour.